Pharmacy technicians prepare and dispense drugs and medication to members of the public. Their work involves making sure prescriptions are dispensed in line with physicians' instructions and that all medication is clearly and correctly labelled. Pharmacy technicians working in hospitals are also required to prepare and distribute medication to be dispensed by medical staff on hospital wards. You'll need a keen eye for detail if you have designs on becoming a pharmacy technician. One mistake could cost somebody their life. To qualify, you will first need to graduate from high school or pass your General Educational Development tests.

Assess whether you have the right qualities to become a pharmacy technician. You'll need to be highly organized and possess exceptional attention to detail. Making a mistake while dispensing medication could have life-threatening consequences.

Volunteer or gain work experience in a hospital or pharmacy environment. Any pharmacy experience -- be it operating cash registers, working with computers or maintaining inventory -- will be a benefit when looking for a trainee pharmacy technician position or applying to get onto a course at a pharmacy college.

Join the National Pharmacy Technician Association. Membership in the NPTA lets you access a wealth of information about working as a pharmacy technician as well as news about training opportunities and best practices.

Contact your state's Board of Pharmacy to find out which licenses or certifications you'll need to become a pharmacy technician in your area. Most states require some form of certification. You might need to apply for a technician-in-training permit before you start to look for work.

Apply for trainee pharmacy technician roles or sign up for a postsecondary education program at a pharmacy technology college.

Sign up for and take certification exams accredited by either the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board or the National Healthcareer Association. After that, you must fulfill the requirements of your local Board of Pharmacy to become a fully-certified pharmacy technician. Your employer should pay any fees you're charged to sit for your exams or acquire your license if you're working as a trainee pharmacy technician.

About the Author

Michael Roennevig has been a journalist since 2003. He has written on politics, the arts, travel and society for publications such as "The Big Issue" and "Which?" Roennevig holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from the Surrey Institute and a postgraduate diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists at City College, Brighton.